5 Shocking Secrets Behind Nicole Kidman's Erotic Thriller 'Babygirl': Plot, Cast, And Controversial Themes Explained

The question "What is *Babygirl* about with Nicole Kidman" has captivated audiences and critics since its premiere, and the answer lies in a high-stakes, deeply psychological erotic thriller that challenges societal norms about female desire and power dynamics. As of December 15, 2025, the film has been released and is now available for streaming, confirming its status as one of the most provocative and talked-about movies of the year. This A24 production, directed by Halina Reijn, delves into the complex life of a successful CEO whose seemingly perfect world is cracked open by an illicit affair with her much younger intern, exploring themes of sexual fulfillment, midlife crisis, and the consequences of reclaiming one’s sexuality. The film, which premiered to significant buzz at the Venice Film Festival, stars Academy Award winner Nicole Kidman in a career-defining role as Romy, a high-powered executive. The narrative is a deliberate and intense exploration of the power imbalance and the taboo nature of their relationship, making it a spiritual successor to classic erotic thrillers while offering a modern, female-gaze perspective on desire and self-acceptance.

The Complete Profile: *Babygirl* Film Synopsis and Core Cast

The film *Babygirl* is an American erotic thriller that has generated substantial discussion due to its sensitive subject matter and stellar cast. It is a story designed to make the audience uncomfortable while forcing a confrontation with complex human desires.

Film Details and Production

• Title: *Babygirl*
• Genre: Erotic Thriller, Psychological Drama
• Director & Screenwriter: Halina Reijn (known for *Bodies Bodies Bodies*)
• Production Company: A24
• Theatrical Release: December 25, 2024
• Streaming Availability: Available for streaming on Max starting April 25, 2025, and airing on HBO on April 26, 2025.

Main Cast and Characters

The film features a tight ensemble, with the chemistry between the two leads being central to the plot's tension.

• Nicole Kidman as Romy: A high-powered, successful CEO who is happily married but secretly unfulfilled. Her character is at the center of the film's exploration of a midlife crisis and repressed desires.
• Harris Dickinson as Samuel: The handsome, mysterious intern who becomes Romy's lover. Dickinson’s portrayal adds a layer of ambiguity to the power dynamic of the affair.
• Antonio Banderas: Plays Romy’s husband, whose presence complicates the affair and raises the stakes of the deception.
• Sophie Wilde: A key supporting role, rounding out the main cast.

The Shocking Plot: Romy’s Affair with Samuel and the Power Dynamic

The central premise of *Babygirl* is the illicit and volatile affair between Romy, a corporate CEO in her mid-50s, and Samuel, her 20-something intern. This high-stakes relationship is not merely a fling; it is the catalyst for Romy’s psychological and sexual awakening. The narrative begins with Romy, who appears to have the perfect life: a successful career, a loving husband (Antonio Banderas), and financial security. However, she harbors a deep-seated feeling of being unfulfilled, a sense of having repressed her true desires for years. The arrival of Samuel, the young, charismatic intern, acts as a mirror and a temptation. The relationship quickly escalates from professional to intensely personal, plunging into a secretive affair. The film masterfully uses the corporate setting—the office, the boardroom, the high-rise—as a backdrop for this very private transgression. The stakes are immense, as Romy risks her marriage, her career, and her entire reputation for a relationship that is as intoxicating as it is dangerous. Director Halina Reijn deliberately creates an atmosphere of composed chaos, where the seductive thrill of the affair is constantly underscored by the threat of exposure. The film's title, *Babygirl*, itself hints at the complex power play and the submissive-dominant roles that may or may not be explicitly explored within the relationship, leaving the audience to question who truly holds the power.

Controversial and Provocative Themes Explored in *Babygirl*

More than just an erotic thriller, *Babygirl* functions as a commentary on female sexuality, aging, and the corporate world. The film stands out because of its willingness to confront themes often considered taboo in mainstream cinema.

1. Female Desire and Sexual Fulfillment

The core theme is the exploration of female sexual desire, particularly in a woman past the conventional "prime" that Hollywood often dictates. Romy's affair with Samuel is a quest for sexual fulfillment and a reclamation of her sexuality that she felt was lost or suppressed within her conventional marriage.

The film asks a critical question: What happens when a woman, successful in every other aspect of her life, decides to prioritize her own repressed, even "kinky," desires?

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2. The Complexity of Power Dynamics

The relationship between a CEO and an intern is inherently a power imbalance, but *Babygirl* flips and complicates this dynamic. While Romy holds the professional power, Samuel possesses the power of youth and sexual allure. The film explores how this power shifts back and forth, delving into ideas of self-objectification and the use of sexuality as a form of control or liberation. This complex layering of power is what elevates it beyond a simple affair story.

3. Midlife Crisis and Self-Acceptance

Nicole Kidman's performance as Romy is a deep dive into the midlife crisis, not just as a cliché, but as a genuine, painful need for self-discovery. The film suggests that the affair is less about Samuel and more about Romy's journey toward self-acceptance—accepting the "beast inside of us all," as Director Halina Reijn has described the film's underlying message.

*Babygirl*'s Connection to the Erotic Thriller Canon

*Babygirl* has been widely categorized as a modern addition to the erotic thriller genre, drawing comparisons to classics like *Fatal Attraction* or even Kidman's own earlier work, *Eyes Wide Shut*. However, the film differentiates itself through its distinct female perspective. Halina Reijn, a Dutch stage and film actress turned director, has brought a deliberate focus on the complexities of the female gaze and female experience to the genre. Her previous work, *Bodies Bodies Bodies*, also demonstrated her ability to dissect complex social dynamics, which she applies here to the world of corporate power and private desire. The film's DP, Jasper Wolf, is noted for creating a visual style that fluently shifts between the composed professionalism of the office and the raw, intense chaos of the affair, using the cinematography to reflect Romy's inner turmoil. Ultimately, the answer to "what is *Babygirl* about with Nicole Kidman" is a story of a woman who risks everything—her marriage, her career, and her reputation—to confront and ultimately embrace her deepest, most repressed sexual desires. It is a bold, uncompromising film that has cemented its place in the modern erotic thriller landscape.